The Wanderings of the Brigade of Fire and Steel

We have quiet journey, then find OBVIOUSTRAP, but go anyway. Turn out is illusion, we spend six hour walk in place in cold until I go to Abyss and see is just standing. We leave, but fuckeeng tired, so set up camp right next to trap, which was very smart. Tactics.

Anyway, right before second watch apparently we get attacked by a thing? Not sure. I jump out and punch it while is laying on ground making bad noise, and make it drunk like Rika, and apparently kill it (though may have been Bauk’s magic missile.).

Drace and Kurtwood are dumdums, but that wears off by next morning (…maybe not Kurt). Bauks touched magic item and got zapped by protective spell or incompatible magic or something. I don’t know. I burn smelly drunk squid thing body, because it smell like bad fishmonger with week old carp stuffed eel.

do not touch things

As i lay here on the floor of wagon, i reflect on how I’m still alive. Intellect should a main forte for me but wisdom is ehhhh. As a mage , i am curious of things , how they are made what makes them. magic being the main question. Yes we know how that lightning spell works , but how to make it better. Heck a small speel can do damage if used correctly against an enemy. but a new lesson should be this dispell it or let kurtwood touch it first.
from the mind of the blackest mage,
Bauks

What happened last night? Did I miss something? Also why is my mouth slimy? Really? What happened? Rika is inspecting me with such intensity. She seems worried. Also Creena was worried… that scares me a bit. Did Kurt try something? He was coming to as well.

betterthannothin?

Hammig rubbed his knuckles as they cruised back to port to meet up with Lobo and distribute their loot. Punching Naga to death was hard work, even for a seasoned adventurer, blacksmith, and and punchy-guy like himself. His hammer stood next to him, having been entirely unused during the last confrontation. The big man hated not being able to wield it, but well knew the danger involved had he brought his holy weapon to play.

He sighed and stretched out on his hammock, Hammer of Kohsooth in easy reach. Maybe the next adventure they go on, he’ll be able to use glorious holy flames to fight, and not have to worry about accidentally exploding his whole party.

“So, we’re gonna need you to run over to Olympia, and then head to the second continent.”

I knew it. Hammig thought.

Knew what? The second voice was a new one, and in a language possibly only two people in the room understood — Hammig considered that a moment before allowing that Lobo probably could speak it if he wanted to. Gods and all. — belonging to the sword that hung at his left hip. Whether it had a soul or not, Hammig didn’t know, but it was intelligent, and made him the smarter for wielding it. It’s exact twin hung at Drace’s hip.

Knew ve veren’t going to get straight home. Alvays a ketch, you see.

“…and Billy’s armor!”

Siiiigh.

Well, can’t you eat goats? Hammig shuddered at the thought and began to explain why eating the Kender’s goat would be a monumentally bad idea.

Creena: Billy! We have a new adventure (Kender bounces into the stable holding the War Ram)Billy the war goat: Eyes the kender, absently drops the hay he was noisily chewing as she appearsCreena: This is the bestest adventure ever!! You are going to get new armor just like mine (Creena spins around showing her newly enhanced turtle shell armor)Billy the war goat: Baaahh!! (Nibbles on the kenders pouch that smells like crackers.)Creena: Exactly! My new armor lets me talk turtle, and your new armor will let you speak turtle, so soon we can talk turtle together!! The blacksmiths, and Liad and even Lobo, they promised, cross their hearts and eyes!
(Scratches Billy behind the ears, and feeds him a holy cracker (because the holy ones taste better!))Billy the War Goat: (Loud munching sounds)Creena: But first, I have to find a turtle shell, which means we have a mission, and we get to go on a gnomish ship, and see a dwarf, and maybe even talk to dolphins !!Billy the War Goat: (finishes the cracker, and is seeking more) Baahh?

Glad to see the sun again

It was frustrating hearing all the clashing, but being unable to actually be effective in battle… But I am glad everyone survived. I was just up here, watching the events unfold like one of those uppity ranked officers… I should have joined the fray…

Ah… Mission accomplished. We got the goods and the mysterious box to Lobo. Now we are getting these goods sorted and given to everyone. I was given this Sunblade. Pretty fancy. I bet Hamig can’t handle this flame.

Now after dealing with this ordeal… I should consider getting some armor that protects me from lightning attacks… And for everyone else wearing armor… those really hurt

Hm… I feel like I should create a special piece of art… I will spend some time alone creating it. Hope no one comes in as I am creating it….

Brenna's letters home

Myrna, Rod, and Uncle Yarp,

I know, it’s been too long since I wrote last, that curse Ciara often mentions about life being interesting, well, it is that. By now I am sure you have heard strange mutterings – if someone involved hasn’t told you directly yet of some of my recent… adventures.

Not sure exactly where to begin, so guess I will begin where we last left off.

During the defense of Olympia, I was infected by a dwarven vampire controlled by bitch dragon queen. It’s ok, I got better. Was offered a chance to become a full vampire, by Ciara’s friends Gwen and Daniel, but politely declined. I simply could not imagine the bizarre dynamics of being the vampire in the family. With help from Alizar, and a long ceremony, was mostly cured, and no longer have a thirst for blood.

While still in Olympia, we got hired to investigate a cave that suddenly opened up, and that several people had dissappeared into. Spent several days in there, and the team befriended a Biatsu, this Biatsu happened to be the one we had promised to deliver a message to for someone ages before. Drace and Hammig are delighted, our new friend is a blacksmith, so they are learning new and I’m told exciting things.

With their help, made new armor, think Ciara would be pleased, it’s mainly fine leatherwork in dragonhide.

After the Biatsu adventure, I finally got to seek an animal companion, a dire wolf, Warl, answered my call. We are training regularly, and learning to work together. Incredibly excited to have such a great partner now in this adventure.

Waiting sucks!

Well… this in an interesting position. Hamig says this is advantageous for us, but I am not sure… I feel like I should have join the strike party. Norma has been informing me and Baux about how they are progressing. So far so good, until they reached the final check point. Hamig’s idea of using darkness and I believe silence… I couldn’t hear anything that far, was a double edged sword. But Norma tells us that Rika was actually being combat effective with her scythe. …kind of makes me want to try that out.

Man, that Medusa seem very pissed off, the grunts seem a bit intimidated by her… and this room of Naga seem ready for anything. Our plan must work… I wonder if I can make myself a distraction Let them focus on me as the strike party makes their moves. I hope I can draw their attacks to me.

Well… Norma say they reach the area. Let’s hope this plan works and we can get as many people safe and sound.

So… Recent events have made the thinking: When trying to be sneaky-sneak, fire mage is hard. You want burn people to death? You canst, for they are the screaming.

Fireball? Loud kaboom, wake whole castle.

Heat metal? More screaming.

Is shame, I like fire spell. But then, I have idea.

I cast silence, then I cast explosion, and now is silent of dying, no more unstealthy. So now, I have plan.

I will combine Silence and Fireball, and have Hammig’s Silent Fireball. Standard 1d6 damage per level, but non-verbal casting, silent in flight, and silences the 20ft blast radius for 1d4 round. Is will be new favoriting spell.

Da. Is good.

Of course, must finish killing Naga, retrieve treasure, make trade with gnome, go to surface, loose most of treasure to agreement made by someone not in charge of party, and go home and make helmet, but idea I have. Is good.

by Zyvik Mucanth

The Ven vs. The Bas
Unlike in Dunbar or even in other Indopanese clans, Kysely women cannot hold power or ruling title. Noble women then seek power through inter-marrying and education or religion. Political and military power is considered ven – a man’s prerogative while those skills that require mental aptitude and understanding are considered bas— a woman’s nature. Ven traits also include: strength, courage, patriotism and brutality. A true bas woman is cunning, beautiful, poised, and manipulative. Notable Vens include the late Duke Boris the Brutal, Zyk the Cruel, and current duke, Vergo Kysely. Notable Vens include the former Duchess Maximilia Veluska and the sitting Mage Councilor of Myrkul, Senma Milokavik. A noble Bas woman who do not excel in the sciences and arts will, by default, seek as many Vens that she can to increase her chance of placing herself into the greatest place of power. The late Maria Kysely, was said to have had as many as fifty lovers until she married the infamous Duke Vergo. It is also important to note that many of these lovers were said to have lived short lives. She also fulfilled her place of power, by dying during the birth of her youngest child; a tragic if not poetic end for a classic bas.
Pado and Meida
Families of the clan are very large and often consist of many children. Noble families are encouraged to reproduce quite rapidly as power is held from as many marriage contracts as possible. It is unfortunate, that unlike Krondor and Dunbar, Clan Kysely has earned its reputation of in-breeding since most family trees have become tangled. It is common that outisde the immediate family unit there are people that are usually referred to as Pado — a father, uncle, or older brother figure or Meida – a mother, aunt, or older sister figure. These individuals may or may not be relatives, but hold a particular influence within the family unit.

Wow… this place is filled with lots of treasure. There is so much… I wonder if that bag was big enough to gather all of these goods. But everyone seemed interested in the sword in the pedestal… I do admit it had a very beautiful design… I wonder if I could be able to replicate that skill. However, we have a job to do and we must collect it all. As me and Hamig were take care of moving the armors, Creena seemed to activated something… She was shouting… so we made our way to the end to see this… large thing trying to get her. So I had to protect her by engaging it. But it seemed that I was the only one who really was defending her from this stone being… Cowards. Thankfully our mage was able to inflict some damage to it. At least Hamig was able to get a fire beast to distract it… Then Creena suggested we bag it up with all of the items… I was shocked, but… it was not a bad idea.

So Hamig, Brenna, and myself go to the entrance to grab the bag and we find 4 humanoids in the way… weapons drawn at us. We paused to see if they would negotiate… but their dolphins proved their intentions to us. After an initial gauge of their strength, Hamig suggested we fall back to the cave to give us the advantage of terrain and numbers. We call the others to the front, and Creena started conversing with them… Everyone was shocked at this… even these guys were confused.. but after a moment… Creena tells us that we were desecrating a tomb of their ally or something. I am not sure what else Creena told them, but I was wary about this… Then Creena tells me that they wanted proof of our claim for the treasure… We needed Lobo’s or Liad’s sign or something… but we had to go back and get it from the surface. After more discussion she tells me in order to get our proof, I would need to surrender to them.

I took a moment to consider our situation. I look at everyone in here. The need of many outweigh my needs… so I decided I would give myself willingly in order to complete our mission. I let them cuff me and take me to wherever they wanted.

So I am being taken into what seems to be their city with this massive statue of a god it seems. I am led to a room that has air… I am glad. I don’t have to use all my cherries and drown. But I am their prisoner. I gave them my word that I will stay, but using Shadowform sounded tempting. So I stayed in the room… and decided if I have to stay in there. I may as well spend the time painting. It seem to catch their attention. The female guards wanted me to paint them in various poses. Then I was painting for more and more of them… they were very intrigued by me painting. They gave me a few gifts as I continue to paint for them.

They seemed to be gone for a good while… I hope they didn’t forget about me… I am not certain how long have I been here. But I am glad I am comfortable and they are treating me well. The the female guards seem to want to guide me out… but with heavy hearts it seems. But they have led me back to my party… who seem to fought a strange snake thing. I am glad they are back. I was a bit worried.

But it seems they have a problem they want us to handle before we can acquire the treasure. They want us to venture forth and kill those snake-beast Nagas that devour their young. They treated me well and they are good people. I will gladly defeat this vile things for them.

Osirika's Perspective

So there it was: the great storm they had to traverse. It was easy enough that Lobo instructed them on this mission, and provided resources for the mission, and the Emperor’s sister by marriage was also acting as puppeteer for this entire escapade. Osirika swore to herself thinking of that Imperial wench. But it was a mage’s prerogative to hold spells as ransom for favors. That should could not blame her for. What was worse, was that the young Indopanese woman did not know if the whatever-her-title-was even had the spells she needed.
This was moot, however, as their dear fearless leader had already accepted the job (well, he did not tell the god that ordered them the job no.) And into the maelstrom, under the water, into the carcass of a dragon turtle they must swim. Swim…. She swore again. There was no time to stitch swimming leathers, even if she would be caught dead in such a horrendous outfit. She went towards the rest of her group.
“’Ow am I suppozed to uz my spellz in dee vater? I vill not be able to move.” She held her long dark robes in emphasis. "Do you expet me to go naked?
“I don’t see a problem with this,” retorted Drace, almost under his breath. It was almost as every one of the party stopped and stared at their leader, having actually heard what had just come out of his mouth.
Osrika half smiled at the comment. Only a foolish woman would not consider the tall blacksmith handsome, especially in his glowing armor. But she was too seasoned to be shocked by any man’s words.
“Not now, Drace,” she informed him quietly. That should shut him up she thought… or encourage him. Either way really did not matter to her.
She looked more closely at the Nagrand Cherries they were given. She remembered something similar used by Indopanese mountain climbers, who used a berry to encapsulate a comfortable atmosphere around them at high altitudes. She figured that with Lobo’s resources, this might be either the same “berry” as she knew, or another species. She seemed to be put more at ease about the movement dilemma, and proceeded to set aside one of the cherries for further research later. She mused to herself about the affects of long term exposure to an isolated atmosphere, completely oblivious to the odd looks she received from Drace.

Wait, a cave in the sea?!

Okay, I had to leave them with one command, don’t die… And from what I heard Hamig almost didn’t follow that. And to top that off, I missed how epicly (so the others say) how he fell. Also took me a moment to notice he didn’t have his God-blessed maul now.

So now, what the hell did Hamig agreed for us to do? I thought he hated the waters. But here we are in this interesting ship… But I have to say, I haven’t felt like I am on a boat compared to other ships. So we are suppose to gather treasures from this cave underwater… I was about to question this until they gave me these cherries that suppose to let me breath underwater. Whatever we find, Lobo and Celeste have first dibs at the loot. Then the Dick… then us… I hope this treasure is worth the trouble though…

What we were heading to… No one told me we were going into a storm in the sea! But I had to say, the imagery of this looks very stunning. I may try to create this in a painting.

I was listening to Rika talking about how she was going to traverse the deep sea with her robe soaked. Creena suggested she go naked. Haha… I had to admit it was not a bad idea. Then my party looked at me, oddly… Then to make things odder, Rika tells me quietly “Not now.” Uh… I think I said too much now… Should focus on painting a bit before we do this mission.